Senior Algerian al-Qaeda member arrested in Mali

French and Malian joint forces in northern Mali arrested a wanted senior Algerian member of al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb or AQIM, an Algerian security source told Xinhua on late Sunday. Algeria was informed of the detention of Mousbaa Nadir, 51, alias Abu Said, the source said on condition of anonymity, adding that the Algerian security services have lifted his name from the list of the most wanted terrorists. The al-Qaida member was arrested in the locality of Tessalit near the Algerian border, the source said. Nadir was convicted in absentia by an Algerian court over charges of killing foreigners in the province of Ghardaia, some 700 km southeast of Algiers, in 1995.